Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid will be sidelined for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks due to a combination of right hip soreness and a right ankle sprain. Embiid's status was initially listed as probable for Wednesday night's game, citing only the ankle sprain. However, the NBA's official injury report later confirmed his exclusion from the game, updating his condition to include both injuries.

Sources indicate that Embiid experienced increased soreness in his ankle and hip, preventing him from participating in Philadelphia's shootaround on Wednesday morning. The 2022-23 league MVP had been undergoing intensive, around-the-clock treatment in a determined effort to be ready for play.

This latest setback follows Embiid's recent return to action. He has played in five playoff games since undergoing an emergency appendectomy on April 9, just days before the conclusion of the regular season. Across the current postseason, the seven-time All-Star has been averaging 25.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 5.8 assists.

Upon returning after missing the first three games of Philadelphia's opening-round series against the Boston Celtics, Embiid delivered a dominant performance. Over the final four games of that series, he averaged an impressive 28.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists. He notably capped off the series with 34 points and 12 rebounds as the 76ers achieved a significant upset over their rival Celtics, marking the 14th time in NBA history a team has overcome a 3-1 deficit.

However, just two days after that triumph, Embiid and the 76ers struggled considerably in Game 1 of the series against the New York Knicks, resulting in a 137-98 loss at Madison Square Garden. In that game, Embiid managed only 14 points on 3-for-11 shooting in 25 minutes before 76ers coach Nick Nurse opted to bench his starters midway through the third quarter. During the regular season, Embiid played 38 games, averaging 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds, an increase from 19 games the previous year.